Twister device for use in a balling apparatus



TWISTER DEVICE FOR USE IN A BALLING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1967 j j z 1 \v 5 1 *3 Q i 25 l2 ///////////7 INVENTUR FREDJJFINNINB JITOQVEYJ United States Patent 3,437,278 TWISTER DEVICE FOR USE IN A BALLING APPARATUS Fred J. Janning, Strongsville, Ohio, assignor to The Warner & Swasey Compan Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 4, 1967, Ser. No. 636,055

Int. Cl. B65h 75/04 US. Cl. 242-544 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A twister device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism is disclosed. The twister device includes a rotatable member having an opening therethrough through which the sliver passes and a pair of cooperable resilient fingers at one end of the member for frictionally engaging the sliver with a force such that the sliver will be twisted when the member is rotated but yet provide for ready passage of the sliver therebetween.

The present invention relates to a balling apparatus, and in particular to a twister device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism of a balling apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel twister device of a highly practical and economical construction for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism of a balling apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved twister device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism, and which is of a construction and arrangement such that it is self-adjusting for sliver of different thicknesses or weights, thereby eliminating any need to change parts when balling sliver of different weights or thicknesses.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved twister device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism and which is of a construction and arrangement such that it permits nipping the sliver at a location closer to the balling mechanism than known twister devices to thereby afford better control of the sliver being delivered to the balling mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved twister device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism and which includes a hollow member which is adapted to be rotated and have one end disposed adjacent the balling mechanism and a pair of cooperable elements carried by the member at its one end which define a nip through which the sliver passes and which frictionally engage the sliver so as to impart a twist thereto when the member is rotated but yet provide for ready passage of the sliver through the nip.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved twister device, as defined in the next preceding object, and wherein the cooperable elements are resilient fingers which are self-biased toward one another to define the nip through which the sliver passes and which are deflectable away from each other to be self-adjusting so that different weights or thicknesses of sliver can be accommodated without necessitating adjustment of any of the parts.

The present invention further resides in certain novel constructions and arrangement of parts, and other objects, advantages and novel characteristics thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present 3,437,278 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 specification and in which similar reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts thereof shown in section of a balling apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows 22;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on a smaller scale taken approximately along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational View of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a balling apparatus or machine 10 embodying the present invention is there shown. The balling apparatus 10, except as noted below, is of the same construction as the balling apparatus or machine shown in US. Patent No. 2,757,876, issued Aug. 7, 6, and only the parts of the balling apparatus which are essential for a clear understanding of the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Resort may be had to the aforementioned patent for a complete description of the balling apparatus 10.

The balling apparatus 10, in general, comprises a balling mechanism 12 for wrapping sliver S around a cylindrical form or sleeve 14 to form a cylindrically shaped ball, a delivery mechanism 15 which is adapted to be reciprocated along the length of the form 14 for delivering the sliver S to the balling mechanism 12 and a frame means 16 for supporting the balling and delivery mechanisms 12 and 15.

The balling mechanism 12 comprises a balling head 18 for rotatably supporting the cylindrical form 14 and a drive drum 17 engageable with the cylindrical ball being wrapped around the form 14 for rotating the ball. The balling head 18 comprises a support shaft 20 which is rotatably supported at the upper end of a support arm 21, as viewed in FIG. 1. The support arm 21 at its lower or other end is pivotally connected to a stationary shaft 22 supported by a bracket 24, which in turn is bolted or otherwise secured to the base 25 of the frame means '16. The cylindrical form is adapted to be positioned or mounted concentrically on the shaft 20.

The balling head 18 is pivotally movable about the axis of the shaft 22 and due to its inclined position will tend to move downwardly, as indicated by the direction of the arrow 26, by reason of gravity and thus, maintain the cylindrical ball in engagement with the periphery of the driving drum 17. The driving drum 17 is fixed to a drive shaft 27 having its opposite ends rotatably supported by spaced side walls 28 (only one of which is shown) of the frame means 16. The drive shaft 27 is adapted to be rotated by a suitable drive means (not shown). The driving drum 17 is adapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow 31 and due to the engagement between the periphery of the driving drum and periphery of the ball, it will rotate the ball in the direction of the arrow 32. The peripheries of the drum 17 and the ball define a nip 33 therebetween through which the sliver S being delivered thereto is drawn.

The delivery mechanism 15 for delivering the sliver S to the nip 33 is adapted to be reciprocated back and forth in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the ball being formed on the form 14 so that the sliver is helically wrapped around the form 14 and with the radially adjacent layers of sliver being overlapping and helically wound in directions opposite to each other. As the diameter of the ball increases during the balling operation, the balling head will pivot upwardly about the axis of the shaft 22 in the direction of the arrow 35. Suitable cooperably engageable friction clutch means located in a housing 36 and connected with the shaft 22 and the lower end of the arm 21 are preferably provided for resisting upward movement of the arm 21 during the balling operation and thus, insuring that the balling head 18 maintains the ball in frictional contact with the surface of drum 17 at all times as it is gradually moved in the direction of the arrow as the diameter of the ball increases.

The delivery mechanism 15 for delivering sliver to the nip 33 between the ball and the drum 17 comprises a sliver guide or trumpet for receiving the sliver from a sliver processing machine or apparatus, not shown, and which is clamped to a sleeve 42 slidably supported by a shaft 44 having its opposite ends supported by the spaced side walls 28. The trumpet 40 has an opening 45 therethrough defined in part by a smooth areuate inner wall surface 46 for smoothly guiding the sliver as it passes through the trumpet 40. The sliver upon passing through the trumpet is helically coiled or looped around an elongated bar 48 having one end secured to the trumpet and which at its other end supports an annular bearing housing 49.

The sliver S upon passing around the bar 43 is twisted and guided for delivery to the nip 33 by a novel twister device 50. The twister device 50 comprises an annular member 51 having a central through opening 52 therethrough. The member 51 at its upper or rearward end, 53 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, is rotatably journalled in the bearing housing 49 via suitable roller bearings for rotation about its longitudinal axis, i.e., the axis of the central opening 52. The member 51 has its forward end 54 located closely adjacent the nip 33 and serves to guide the sliver from the bar 48 through the opening 52 to the nip 33.

The member 51 at its forward end 54 carries a pair of cooperable elements and 61 which function to frictionally engage the sliver and to impart a twist thereto in response to rotation of the member 51 about its axis. The cooperable elements 60 and 61, in the preferred embodiment, are resilient fingers having their rearward ends secured to the member 51 by screws 62 and which respectively extend through slots 66, 67 at diametrically opposite locations in forward end 54 of the member 51. The fingers 60 and 61 specifically are fiat, resilient strips or members and each carries at its forward end a semicylindrical pin 68. The pins 68 are secured with their flat side against the side of the strip member by screws 69 and with their cylindrical axes extending transversely of the direction of sliver movement. The pins 68 extend beyond the opening in the member 51, as shown in FIG. 2, so as not to lose control of the stock when the member 51 rotates and reciprocates simultaneously.

The resilient fingers 60, 61 are self-biased toward each other and with the pins 68 being in engagement with each other, as shown in FIG. 4, when no sliver is being passed therebetween. The pins 68 cooperate to define a nip extending transversely of the direction of sliver movement and diametrically of the opening 52 through which the sliver passes as it is being delivered to the nip 33 of the balling mechanism 12. The fingers 60, 61 are movable in a direction away from each other in opposition to the elastic forces tending to move them toward each other when sliver is being drawn therethrough by the balling mechanism 12, the extent of this movement being dependent upon the thickness or weight of the sliver being balled. The spring fingers 60, 61 function to frictionally engage the sliver S from opposite sides thereof with a force sufficient to cause the sliver to be twisted when the member 51 is rotated about its longitudinal axis but yet provide for ready passage of the sliver through the nip thereof.

The member 51 is adapted to be respectively rotated in opposite directions to twist the sliver S in opposite directions when the delivery mechanism 15 is linearly reciprocated through forward and return strokes along the length of the form 14. To this end, the member 51 carries a ring gear 70 intermediate its ends which is in meshed engagement with a stationary rack 72 suitably supported by the frame means 16. When the delivery mechanism 15 is linearly reciprocated through its forward and return strokes, the member 51 thereof will also be linearly reciprocated. Linear movement of the member 51 will cause the same to rotate about its longitudinal axis due to the meshed engagement between the gear 70 and rack 72. Since the member 51 is reciprocated through forward and return strokes, the member 51 will rotate in one direction during the forward stroke and will rotate in the opposite direction during the return stroke and thus, the twist imparted to the sliver will be in opposite directions during the forward and return strokes. The twists incorporated in the sliver are false twists which will disappear upon unwinding of the ball from the form 14.

The delivery mechanism is adapted to be reciprocated through its forward and return strokes by reciprocating the sleeve 42 along the shaft 44 and by any suitable mechanism, such as by a mangle rack and pin arrangement, as shown in the aforementioned patent.

The advantages of the novel twister device 50 of the present invention are that it is of a more economical construction than known twister devices. Another advantage is that since the fingers 60, 61 are resilient they are selfadjusting to accommodate different thicknesses and weights of sliver being delivered to the balling apparatus. This eliminates the need to change parts when different thicknesses of sliver are to be balled, as was usually the case in known twister devices. Moreover, the twister device 50 affords improved sliver control in that it provides for nipping the sliver at a location very close to the nip 33 between the ball and the drum 17.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the hereinbefore enumerated objects and others have been accomplished and that a new and improved twister device for use for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism has been provided.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a balling apparatus wherein sliver is adapted to be delivered to and wrapped around a rotatable elongated balling form, a member having an opening therethrough through which the sliver moves and which is disposed with one end thereof located adjacent the balling form, means for reciprocating said member along the length of said balling form and for rotating said member as the sliver moves therethrough, and means carried by said member for imparting a twist to said sliver, said means for imparting a twist to said sliver comprising a pair of resilient finger means which are secured at one end portion to said member and have opposite end portions which define a nip through which the sliver passes, said opposite end portions being resilently urged toward each other to maintain a substantially constant pressure against the sliver as the sliver passes through said nip to effect twisting thereof when said member is rotated but yet provide for passage of the sliver through said nip.

2. In a balling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said opposite end portions of said resilient finger means includes an areuate transversely extending surface which cooperates with the similar surface on the other finger means to form said nip, said nip being straight and extending through the center of the opening in said member to position the sliver centrally of the opening.

3. In a balling apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said nip is located at said one end of said member and is disposed immediately adjacent the balling form.

4. A device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism comprising a member having an opening therethrough through which the sliver moves and which is adapted to be rotated and have one end thereof disposed adjacent the balling mechanism, and means carried by said member for imparting a twist to said sliver upon rotation of said member, said means comprising a pair of cooperable surfaces which define a nip through which the sliver passes and which frictionally engage the sliver with a force such that the sliver will be twisted when said member is rotated but yet provide for ready passage of the sliver through said nip, said cooperable surfaces are on a pair of cooperable elements and at least one of said cooperable elements being biased toward engagement with the other of said elements, said cooperable elements including resilient fingers having one end secured to said member and their free ends cooperably engageable with each other to define said nip, said resilient fingers each including an elongated resilient member and an element having an arcuate peripheral surface supported at the free end of the resilient member, said elements being engageable with each other along a line extending transversely of the direction of sliver movement.

5. A device for imparting a twist to sliver being delivered to a balling mechanism comprising a member having an opening therethrough through which the sliver 20 moves and which is adapted to be rotated and have one end thereof disposed adjacent the balling mechanism, and means carried by said member for imparting a twist to said sliver upon rotation of said member, said means comprising a pair of cooperable surfaces which define a 25 nip through which the sliver passes and which frictionally engage the sliver with a force such that the sliver will be twisted when said member is rotated but yet provide for ready passage of the sliver through said nip, said cooperable surfaces are on a pair of cooperable elements and at least one of said cooperable elements being biased toward engagement with the other of said elements, said cooperable elements including resilient fingers having one end secured to said member and their free ends cooperably engageable with each other to define said nip, said member having a pair of slots at its end adjacent the balling mechanism at diametrically opposite locations through which said resilient fingers extend.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,944 11/1947 Noguera 57-77.3 2,674,013 4/1954 Place 24254.4 2,757,876 8/ 1956 Smith et al. 242'54.4 2,968,446 1/ 1961 Selby 242-54.4 3,042,330 7/1962 Haug et a1. 24254.4 3,270,491 9/ 1966 De Langen 5777.3 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 933,367 8/1963 Great Britain.

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner. 

